The Chosen Levites: God’s Inheritance, Lessons Learned
Levites were chosen In the Bible, the Levites were included with the other Israelite guilds that left Egypt and journeyed in the desert with Moses to the Promised Land of Canaan. They descended from Levi, one of Jacob’s sons, who is mentioned in Genesis.
However, unlike the other guilds, they had no permanent tribal area once Israelites crossed the Jordan and entered Canaan (Numbers 18:20-21; Deuteronomy 10:9; 18:1). Instead, they are God’s “portion,” used for rituals and sacral duties in Israel’s tribal regions, especially the Tabernacle.
But why were the Levites chosen? Continue reading to learn more.
Why Were the Levites Chosen?
The Jewish nation’s priests, who would serve in the Tabernacle and the Temple and be the spiritual leaders, were initially supposed to be the firstborn sons. God “acquired” the Jewish firstborn children when He spared them from the Plague of the Firstborn in Egypt and assigned them to this unique position.
After receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Jewish people created and worshipped a golden calf. The union of Levi was the only one that refrained from taking part in this despicable conduct. God, therefore, gave the Levites the firstborn’s former unique status.
What We Can Learn from the union of the Levites?
Just before he passed away, the patriarch Jacob blessed each of his twelve sons. The twelve sons were to be the fathers to the twelve Israel union, and the blessings included prophecies regarding each unions future.
Jacob foretold that he would scatter and disperse the union of Levi in Israel. This was brought on by their ferocious indignation and their vicious fury. The prophecy refers to the destiny of the Levites, but it also has important lessons for all of us.
The Levites were cursed because of their ruthless destruction of the Shechemites. Levi’s fury was terrible since it resulted in cruel actions.
Cruelty is never a part of righteous indignation and anger, like the type Jesus displayed when cleansing the Temple. Levi’s swords, intended primarily as defensive weapons, were used to harm others rather than defend themselves from harm or shield the defenseless.
It’s safe to say that Jacob’s prophecy that “I will scatter them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel” came true. The Levites were dispersed throughout Israel. But they eventually rose to become the priestly union and occupants of the cities of refuge by God’s mercy and by their devotion to Him (Exodus 32:26–29).
Levi’s priestly position was undoubtedly privileged, even though they never had their own assigned territory like the other guilds.
Christians might learn from the Levi union that many sins are brought on by uncontrolled anger. Anger leaves a destructive path behind it, frequently with outcomes beyond repair.
Jacob said, “Let me not enter their council; let me not join their assembly.” This statement also serves as a lesson for us. Because they are unpredictable and lack self-control, angry people are not individuals we should listen to when we need advice.
Anger indicates a lack of self-control, which all believers have (Galatians 5:22–23). Unconfessed anger and no godly effort to confront it make an angry person a terrible counselor and should be avoided.
The restoration of the sinner to the privileged status as a child of God is the final lesson in the union of Levites for Christians.
Christ’s high priestly sacrifice on the cross substituted His righteousness for our sins, making us priests (2 Corinthians 5:21). In 1 Peter 2:9, we discover that God has selected us as a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people who belong to him to worship him for drawing us out of darkness and into his glorious light.
How Was God Himself the Inheritance of the Levites?
In the sense that they were selected to direct the worship of the whole nation of Israel, the Levites’ inheritance was God Himself. The Levites maintained the Tabernacle and all of its equipment and controlled the people’s sacrifices and offerings.
The Levite priests were provided for through their services. The priest owned the internal organs, shoulder, and head for a sheep or bull offering, according to Deuteronomy 18:3–4.
In Numbers 18, this teaching is explained in further detail. The chapter states that in exchange for their work while performing their duties at the tent of meeting, God granted the Levites all of the tithes in Israel as their inheritance.
They were not supposed to get an inheritance among the Israelites. Instead, God would transfer the tithes that the Israelites offered as an offering to the Lord to the Levites as their inheritance.
The Levites’ only inheritance was God. He served as the centerpiece of their work, the source of their support, and the purpose behind their vocation.
What is the Difference Between Priests and the Levites?
The Levites were one of the twelve Israelite guilds that descended from Levi, one of Jacob’s twelve sons. The Law required that all priests be Levites, but not all Levites were priests.
Final Take
We hope this article has answered your question; why were the Levites chosen? The Levites were chosen since they were the only union at Mount Sinai that refrained from worshiping the golden calf.
